Twitter loses it after French police order woman to remove 'burkini'

The French ban on the burkini has taken yet another turn as armed police officers, holding batons and pepper spray, ordered a Muslim woman to strip off on a busy beach in Cannes.

The images went viral on social media late on Tuesday and the hashtags #BurkiniBan and #WTFFRANCE started trending worldwide, with many people expressing shock and outrage.

Is this laicite?

https://twitter.com/aishagani/status/768184264672161793

https://twitter.com/socialchangeftw/status/768264073381158912

https://twitter.com/73160Cedric/status/768422315512266752

Shock at armed patrols

https://twitter.com/KeithWalkerNews/status/768195918999019521

Some people delved into history to make a point

https://twitter.com/musab_ys/status/768190853349306368

https://twitter.com/RuddleMatthew/status/768368101859684352

But women’s freedom to choose dominated debate

https://twitter.com/lottelydia/status/768208981160554496

https://twitter.com/TansyHoskins/status/768395448566575108

https://twitter.com/Rrrrnessa/status/768221435676413952

One of the basic tenets of feminism is that women are in charge of their bodies. France's #BurkiniBan should offend feminists everywhere.
— Jessica Goudeau (@jessica_goudeau) August 24, 2016

https://twitter.com/amybeeface/status/768422347028041729

It seems hatred of a woman's right to choose comes in every shape and size. #BurkiniBan
— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@Harryslaststand) August 24, 2016

With scepticism about the measure's ability to improve security rife

https://twitter.com/musab_ys/status/768177915523629056

By banning burkinis & controlling the way women dress in this country, France is doing & fulfilling ISIS' job, free of charge. #WTFFrance
— sabrina (@brinagoo) August 24, 2016

Young UK Muslims kicked off flight. French Muslim woman ordered to strip by police. The battle for hearts & minds is going well, isn't it?
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 24, 2016

People also linked the ban to restrictions on women’s freedom in the Middle East

Wait a minute - this year, Saudi revoked their morality police's right to arrest people, so France - you've moved into the lead. #Mubrook
— Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) August 24, 2016

https://twitter.com/imraansiddiqi/status/768197107861757952

Wonder how world would react if armed Dubai police forced these women to wear a burka and fined them? #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/CA7mZVoxgd
— Chris Doyle (@Doylech) August 24, 2016

LBC’s James O’Brien pulled no punches

.@mrjamesob on the #BurkiniBan: "How would you feel if a nun was forced to take off her habit on a beach?” https://t.co/iyVPrjI3ik
— LBC (@LBC) August 24, 2016

Double-standards?

https://twitter.com/stillSHErises/status/768374493228175360

https://twitter.com/giannivanlaere/status/768391328212353024

https://twitter.com/tootahsz/status/768384488426639360

Wetsuits must go!

I'll just leave this here #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/RgawTJPz3v
— Jolyon Rubinstein (@JolyonRubs) August 24, 2016

UK politicians got stuck into the debate too

Armed police force woman to take her clothes off. What part of that sentence is OK? #BurkiniBan
— Dawn Butler ✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) August 24, 2016

Men policing women's clothes in Europe in 2016
How dare any man order any woman 2undress. #womensrights #BurkiniBan https://t.co/iszZfsV9GZ
— Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) August 24, 2016

Banning the burkini is misogynistic.Huda says western feminists r turning a blind eye, so I'm retweeting https://t.co/OA56dTY9wl
— Ruth Cadbury (@RuthCadbury) August 14, 2016

And a few users chirped in with some irony

https://twitter.com/stephjkd/status/768210189241704448

In Wake of Burkini Ban, Muslim Women Demand Criminalization of Fat White Men in Speedos - https://t.co/yXNn34ycqc via @mideastbeasties
— Stephanie Mencimer (@smencimer) August 24, 2016

Then there was Nigella...

https://twitter.com/untitledhorrors/status/768422549768265728

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